PETALING JAYA: Only one out of three projects in the redevelopment of the Angkasapuri Complex to Media City by the Communications and Multimedia Ministry has been completed, according to the Auditor-General’s Report 2021 Series 1.
Calling the implementation “less than satisfactory”, the report said it had caused the state broadcaster, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), to lose viewers and listeners in 2021 compared with the previous year.
“The delay in the completion of the project has caused losses in terms of staff discomfort, limited storage space, delays in the use of facilities and new buildings that should have been occupied and used earlier,” it said.
The report also attributed the delays to the selection of a concession company with an unstable financial position.
The redevelopment project was proposed by the government in 2009, with a RM2.406bil allocation under the 11th Malaysia Plan.
It contains two main components – the construction of new buildings and the supply of broadcasting facilities – under a private finance initiative model, and involves RM860mil consisting of three agreements.
It also involves the exchange of 4.6ha of land worth RM137.19mil.
The project also aimed to upgrade two existing analogue transmission channels to 10 digital TV channels.
“Though the upgrading of the two SD (standard definition) analogue transmission channels to 10 HD (high definition) digital TV channels has been achieved, the result assessment has not been carried out as the project is yet to be fully completed,” the report pointed out.
Other weaknesses include a delay in the delivery of and inefficient maintenance services of the concession company that could disrupt broadcasting, the report added.
The National Audit Department recommended that the ministry and the Public-Private Partnership Unit (Ukas) base the selection of concession companies on guidelines to enable the government to get value for money.
The ministry and RTM are also advised to ensure that matters related to governance are comprehensive and effective, especially in the aspect of maintenance management.
In response, the ministry said it would ensure that proposed companies for future projects would be based on Ukas guidelines.
On the declining viewership and listenership, the ministry said RTM was working to increase its TV and radio ratings through its Strategic Plan (2021-2025). It said the decline in viewership in 2020 and 2021 was due to the Covid-19 pandemic that resulted in a lack of fresh content production.